Rick Perry has displayed some polling prowess among socially conservative Iowa Republicans — but a new poll finds the potential candidate lagging among voters in New Hampshire, the state that hosts the first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

“People don’t know who he is,”said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University’s Political Research Center. “He has not introduced himself.”

New Hampshire hosted the first major G.O.P. debate earlier this month, an event front-runners Romney, Bachmann and Paul participated in but which Perry was absent from.

Rick Perry lags in New Hampshire, but could appeal to conservative voters in the state's primary if he declares a candidacy soon, one pollster said. (Eric Gay/Associated Press)

When asked who they would choose if their first choice candidate left the race, only 2 percent of respondents said they would vote for Perry, according to the poll. The survey found Romney would receive 14 percent and Bachmann 12 percent of second-choice votes.

Perry tied with Tim Pawlenty, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich while beating Rick Santorum by one percentage point in the New Hampshire poll — but the early polls are not looking good for any of the less popular candidates.

“Everyone expects Romney to win New Hampshire, and probably to win it comfortably, Paleologos said.

But he said the polling also indicates that the state has room for other candidates.

“There’s been a void in New Hampshire where people were unable to find an alternative to Mitt Romney,” he said.

Bachmann saw the largest upswing since the May poll, gaining 8 percentage points, which Paleologos said indicates that New Hampshire has room for another candidate that appeals to a more conservative, Tea Party niche. According to the poll, 51 percent of those who said they are likely to vote in the primary said their values are similar to those of the Tea Party.

That could be good news for Perry, since the fiscal conservative shares many of the movement’s values and benefited from Tea Party votes in his 2010 bid for Texas governor.

Perry also recently announced he will keynote Cornerstone Action’s annual awards dinner in Manchester Oct. 28 and has since been spoken highly of by New Hampshire conservatives.

“Gov. Perry has been a model example of both fiscal and social conservative leadership for the rest of the nation,” Kevin Smith, Cornerstone Action executive director, said in a statement.

Paleologos said if Perry chooses to enter the race and campaigns in New Hampshire, his conservative credentials will likely appeal to voters who support Bachmann rather than front-runner Romney.

“A center-right character from the South is probably a profile that could impact and slow down Michele Bachmann’s surge,” he said.

Paleologos said that though Perry garnered little support in the June poll, he could still do well in the state — but Perry should introduce himself soon if he hopes to gain voters.

“A delayed announcement or poor timing — over the fourth of July — might not be a wise move,” he said.